My sister in law and husband said they couldn’t get Medicaid because they live in their own home. Their income is around $1000 a month. Why?

Your SILs income and assets don’t count toward her parents Medicaid eligibility. Sounds like she is either confused or misinformed. If her parents total monthly income is $1000, then they qualify for Medicaid. Owning a home doesn’t make them ineligible either

Unless the parents gifted money, have a house with value above the state’s maximum, don’t qualify under care needs, or don’t meet that state’s qualifications as resident or citizen. I agree With worried that SIL may not have gotten all the facts for disqualification. It’s worth checking the document that stated reasonS they didn’t qualify.

I’m with Worried & GuestShoppe that your SIL is misinformed.

Medicaid is a huge, HUGE program run uniquely by each state but within overall federal guidelines. Everything from those Happy Teeth vans that go to schools under CHIP, to loaning breast pumps under WIC, to LTC skilled nursing care in a NH. One thing they all have in common is that all are “at need” programs. So the applicant must show to be “at need” both medically AND financially for the exact particulars of the specific Medicaid program he or she or they actually have filed for Medicaid.

if he, or she or they were determined to be ineligible, then state Medicaid program or the outside contractor - who is managing that specific program - will send a letter as to why they are ineligible. They can appeal the disapproval but it has to be within whatever tight timeframe to do an appeal.

so did they actually file for a program & get a ineligible letter? If so they and whomever is thier DPOA need to get that letter and go to their Area on Aging Office to get clarification as to what exactly it means
BUT
If is this more that somebody told them they had too too much $ (if this is it, unless they know their exact details on the couples income AND assets it all nonsense & fear speak), or told them they had too too expensive of a home, or had a adult child living with them that disqualifies them or too, too much of something else.... whether or not it will matter will depend on the source of the income AND type of asset AND knowing the rules for the specific Medicaid program for your state (like gifting of funds or commingling of accounts).
Otherwise is all just conjecture.

as others have said, for couples Medicaid, really an elder law attorney- especially one CELA level- will be worthwhile for them to have.

They likely can't get community Medicaid but it has nothing to do with the daughter or her income. The home ownership is what prevents community Medicaid. Long Term Care Medicaid, ( the type you need for a nursing home) on the other hand would be available if they medically need it, regardless of whether they own a home or not. They need to consult an elder specialist or attorney to help prepare in the event they would need nursing home care. The Daughter's income has nothing to do with any approval or denial of Medicaid. They really need to have an attorney take care of preparations in case they need nursing home care.

Hibiscus, what state do these folks live in? If NC, the Medicaid rules are very complicated. I can understand why they are confused.

If parents are trying for health insurance, the daughter living and helping out may effect it. They do ask who is living with you.

For NH care 1k is well under the cap for Medicaid. The house does not count as income unless its worth a lot. I can't believe together they only get 1000. My DH worked blue collar and the highest he made, in later years was 50k. I worked full and p/t jobs, the highest about 30k. Together we get about 2300.

I think you may need to call Medicaid and run this by a caseworker. Doesn't sound right.

They should see Elder law Atty..& have them fight w Medicaid...hugs 🤗